Mission 4: Mikawa Recruitment

[Squall255]

Rainer grabs shiergu and tries asks him to help him make more ammo for the hwatcha's, then begins learning the range/accuracy of the weapon and teaching the others how to use them.

( GM: You're gonna have to test fire it a few times (at diff angles) before learning range/accuracy of the weapon. And seeing as you're not even proficient with the weapon yourself, teaching others is probably a bit out of the question --- careful not to blow up the base now ).

( GM: If you're up for it marty... crafting[alchemy] and know[engineering] checks for it please ).

[TheDude51]

Terasaka will work with a few people who know the area well to assemble a list of the samurai houses in Tokugawa, as well as all the information possible about their leaders, attitudes, and loyalties. He will include Ayumi and Akira, and will ask around the rebel camp for anyone who has special knowledge of the politics and families of the region.

[Sajuuk]

Craft (Alchemy): 1d20+30 = 34 (36 if it counts as a firearm)
Knowledge(Engineering): 1d20+17 = 22

Shigeru also goes searching for a tulip (yes, the flower kind, since he didn't get the cannon yet)
Knowledge(Nature): 1d20+16 = 27
Survival: 1d20+12 = 31

[Squall255]

Know [Arch and Eng]:
(I don't have craft Alchemy, so here's a Craft [siege weapon] roll: nat 1 means 22)
(Here's an untrained Craft [alchemy] check just incase, Rainer also makes sure to spend Artifice points to improve the alchemy set that he and Shigeru are using by +6):

Marty this means that your Craft [Alchemy] check improves by another +6 for a result of 40(42 if firearm)

Rainer also racks his brain for what he knows about the region:
Know [Local]:
Know [Noble/Royal]:

[Zanaikin]

( I still need to know whose accepting the actual invitation xD )

Unsurprisingly, Terasaka finds out that most of the resistance group are just common peasants from the areas, and a few of them refugees from the other war-torn areas. They fork over a few names, but really couldn't tell you anything more than that. Genichirou was a little more forthcoming about the information when you found him chatting with the sentries atop a watchtower and asked him, although he seemed a bit puzzled and unsure when he spoke about it:

"Well, there's the Honda, the Sakai, the Matsudaira--- all three being tanuki clans; the main human samurai families would be the Saji, the Makino, the Ikeda, and the Mizuno. The tanuki leader, Tokugawa Leyasu, was actually from the Matsudaira clan who simply decided to revive an old family name--- I'm not sure if it was originally a Matsudaira branch or something. But most of his family are still formally of the Matsudaira clan; they control the territory from the northern Yoshida castle right now, much to the annoyance of the local Makino clan who built the damn thing a century back. Okazaki castle is controlled by the Honda clan, but since Honda Tadakatsu and his samurai are all campaigning up north right now, his vassal clan--- well currently vassal, used to be the other way around--- the Mizuno clans' samurai are doing the actual garrisoning, with the tanuki general Li Naomasa in command; you can imagine how we feel about that one. So if you're looking for unhappy samurai to start a revolt, I'd begin with either the Makino or Mizuno."

"The Ikeda clan is also to the north and surprisingly compliant with the tanuki since their takeover; or maybe just that their family heads have far too much patience... don't know them well enough either way. The Saji clan are probably the most prominent human clan in the area, but despite how loyal they used to be to the old lord they're also the first to switch their fealty to their new tanuki overlords--- it was surprising and I'm still not sure why, but we lost a damn lot of respect for them over that. They are still the big guys who run much of the administration though and managed to drag most of the other clans who stayed around over to the tanuki side."

"Touka knows a lot more than I do on the matter, so if you want more details you should probably ask her later tonight--- she's out scouting the Takeda movements right now."

( btw, I do assume take10, when possible, on rolls when you don't make them alongside an action, just so you know xP )


/// **************************************** ///


Shigeru manages to figure out the gist of the Hwacha ammunition over the course of the day, especially with Rainer's help. He's confident that he should be able to reproduce it and make more--- although may not be the best idea to mass produce them while still in hostile lands. The salvos take a lot of gunpowder and buying the ingredients for it here will probably arouse serious suspicion. You can start making a few salvos tomorrow if you want, but anything more than one set is going to need a trip to town.

On the other hand, Shigeru found no tulips (flower) in the area after going out on a stroll during break. He suspects they may not actually be native to Japan, although he's not completely sure about that kind of detail on a mere flower... might find a florist that cultivated them here, but probably not in the wild.



Rainer doesn't really know anything more about the local rulers, they're just too minor in the overall picture of the world (since he's from quite far away). He does still find it a bit strange to see the tanuki, which are technically a youkai species, governing the humans in these lands. Last he heard, the humans were the 'winners' of the youkai war in Japan about ten years ago. The Mikawa region isn't exactly a very important region of Japan either, although being on the borders between the mighty Takeda clan and the Oda clan it certainly saw its fair share of battles during its history. Surprisingly though, the people aren't as used to the current battles being waged in this region as he would think though--- seems like the last decade has been rather peaceful for the locals, not because of the tanuki but because the Oda clan has been lacking aggression over the last few years (until recently); but it certainly works in the tanuki's favor insofar as local opinion goes.

[Laharl]

Yuuta will go to dinner.

[TheDude51]

(Accepting invitation. Longer post on plans coming soonish.)

[Zanaikin]

( Since it seems like no-one has anything else to do at the moment... )


As night fell, the welcome feast (sort of) begins to go underway. The resistance stronghold doesn't quite have a single hall large enough to accommodate everyone, so it ended up being held half in the courtyard where everyone sat or stood wherever they wanted while huge pots of food were cooked within sight. The dining hall must have been built with this particular purpose in mind as opening its massive and creaky doors exposed almost any entire wall to the outside. Izayoi Genichirou first roughly introduced to group to everyone (again) and reiterated the plan to join up with the ex-exiles and their former lord in Nakakuni (again) before he let everybody eat and chat as they please...

Rainer knew it was the second celebration feast in just a few days' time, and a few people in the camp wondered aloud if their supplies could withstand the extravagance. But the cooks spoke proudly that since they were planning to pack up and move westwards, they can't really bring *everything* along--- might as well use some of the goods while they can.

Groups of people quickly found themselves gathering around specific conversations. There was a makeshift bar where many of the most veteran warriors seem to gather around, reminiscing the days when they served under the Tougou clan and wondering what it would be like once again. There was a large circle of both kids and the younger fighters gathered around the central campfire, where a young lieutenant was boastfully describing their most recent 'mission' to scout out what sounded like the entire Takeda cavalry army, only to be corrected as the Izayoi Touka and the rest of her patrol team joined the outer audience. Another circle of middle-aged women sat not far away, complaining to each other about all the things they need to pack or, god-forbid, toss away, due to the upcoming move...

Sitting halfway down the outermost table of the dining hall (because no-one wanted to sit too far inside when most of the commotion was in the courtyard), Izayoi Genichirou waved towards Yuuta and Terasaka. Both Sugire and Ayumi sat nearby--- Sugire seems to be telling him stories from his travels on the main continent, while Ayumi seemed to listen closely but his eyes drooped as disinterestedly as ever. Kentarou and Miki also sat about six or so seats down the table, currently seem to be arguing over her dislike for a particular vegetable.

( and Rainer + Shigeru probably just dug their heads out from poking at the new hardware ).

[TheDude51]

Terasaka grabs a plate of food and sits down next to Genichirou. He will keep the conversation away for business as much as possible, and try to get the samurai to tell impressive tales from his past. Terasaka particularly wants to get the full, play-by-play account of the Toushin Toushi tournament and how he ended up being sent there to get a girl. He will tell some of his own stories if Genichirou asks, like ambushing the Black Oni or going toe to toe with Kikkawa Kiku.

(Since I didn't have time before we started the mission, here are the remaining questions from the pre-raid Commune:
-Does Shigeru's fear of Miki have a basis in reality rather than simply his paranoia?
if yes
-Does she possess powerful magic?
-Is she truly human?
-Does this fear have to do with their "alternate Japan" origin?
-Does Shigeru's reaction have to do with his Tiefling nature?
-Do the rest of us also have reason to fear her?
-Is she dangerous to be near to?)

[Zanaikin]

[TheDude51]

Impression: 1d20+10=26
Diplomacy: 1d20+24= 35, 33, 33

[Laharl]

Yuuta joins Terasaka and Genichirou, letting Terasaka do most of the talking. Yuuta is also quite interested in the tale of the Toushin Tournament, but is also interested in hearing stories about (the guy who gave him the sword). Yuuta does make sure to cut Terasaka off if he comes anywhere near the topic of his other self during stories about Kikkawa.

(Sorry, I've been a tad braindead the last few days.)

[Zanaikin]

( Sorry, I've been halfway between busy and sick recently... )

After Genichirou's request, Terasaka recounted a number of the more exciting tales from the exile and breakout periods, and at least a dozen other resistance fighters began to gather around the table, listening in to his stories. With a combination of oral prowess and exotic stories--- only two of them even heard of a black oni and believed it to be some three story tall monster--- Terasaka managed to fascinate and impress his audience quite handily. The only time when someone really interrupted was when Yuuta steered him away from some of the details during the fight against Kikkawa Kiku, which left Genichirou a little puzzled as he turned towards Yuuta for clarification:

"So by extremely powerful spells--- did you receive training in the far north or on the continent? It's very rare to see a military mage in Japan use direct offensive magic. I usually only hear of it from either the continent's wars or from the Youkai in the far northeastern Japan."

// ---------- * * * ---------- //

Later, as Terasaka asked Genichirou regarding tales of the Toushin Toushi tournament, he nodded in agreement but didn't look happy about it:

"Well, okay, you shared yours and it'd only be appropriate if I share my story. You already know that previous lord dispatched us to the tournament sent us on the trip over a girl. The name was Hazumi Flamel, partner to the entrant Nakuto Lagunard, and she had a reputation for having a rare ability of being able to enchant a weapon with raw materials--- adding rare metals to an existing sword without having to forge anew and all that. The official reason was to invite her back to help with our samurai's swords--- HA! As if anyone believed that to be the main reason given the lord's womanizing reputation--- and she was quite the pretty one."

"Toushin Toushi has arena matches year around, and only the best 32 are allowed into the tournament. Contestants join in pairs, usually a fighter and a support but ocassionally two fighters who would swap inbetween matches--- exactly what we did. Touka has an style that excelled against the more aggressive gladiators who tend to overextend themselves, and I overwhelmed the average and more defensive types..."

(Insert a longer story here since I don't feel like typing an essay)

"We did darn well for ourselves until the Nakuto beat me during the 4th round semifinales--- that kid has some real determination and guts; struck me with an all-out blow that completely left himself open. It might sound like an excuse, but his sword was quite something--- I might have parried off his attack if my blade wasn't bent from our repeated clashes. Hazumi must really be as good as her reputation goes."

"Normally, since we were defeated in the tournament we'd have to serve the winner for a year--- part of the victor's prize and the reason why we were sent to win it. But before the end we escaped aftering hearing of the coup back at home, yet still arrived back too late. Both of us went back to the city a few months later to fulfill our obligation, but apparently the winner of the tournament--- one of those legendary Kalar elves at that, had gotten killed in some major local conspiracy. That year was the biggest disgrace of my life as a samurai: we failed our mission, failed to support our liege when he needed us most, and even failed our temporarily obligations."

Genichirou sighed audibly as his usual energy completely left his tone.

"Well, there you have it." He concluded, obviously not wanting to speak any more of it.

...

Genichirou also tells Yuuta: "Sorry, I don't really know much about Taira other than he was the old special ops commander. I'm hardly known for subtlety, so we don't usually cross paths on missions..."

[Laharl]

"I trained in the north for a time when I was younger. Unfortunately, I was at best an indifferent student of magic and did not stay long. I've frankly never cast anything like what happened then before or since."

Bluff: 20 + 14 = 44

[Squall255]

Rainer shows up when the stories start, and pays particular attention when his new comrades discuss their adventures. He tries to stay towards the back and observe.